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If anyone has a similar plot just tell me and I'll revise this.
Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing the characters from GALS!
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Always One-Sided
By:
TwilighT DovE
Chapter 1- A Night to Remember
Flashback:
The rumor that Ran and Rei are dating spread fast throughout Shibuya despite Ran's frequent denial. Aya couldn't help but feel jealous. The rumor might not be true but it hurt her for a reason she herself could not decipher. After a series of depression, resulting to lack of sleep, Aya found herself crying in Towa's arms. Right then and there, the walls of her heart fell down and all her concealed emotions rushed out like water in a broken jar.
"I don't know if I should pursue my love for Rei." She confessed in between her sobs. "'Because if I do, jealousy will surely drive me into hating Ran."
Towa caressed her long dark hair in comfort. "You know what," she said in a soft voice, not wanting to add more to Aya's pain, "in love, one must learn when to fight and when to give up."
"But I don't know." Aya answered truthfully.
"But in your case, it's not merely about giving in or not. It's also about love and friendship." The older female lectured. "You've already endured many things for that guy," she continued, "but are you ready to sacrifice more for him? Do you think he's worth sacrificing for?" Aya stopped sobbing as she momentarily contemplated the answers to her question. "Let me ask you," Towa spoke with a gentler tone. "What do you think will give you lesser pain, to retain a friend but lose your love or to lose a friend for a chance to succeed in love?"
For awhile, Aya said nothing but merely shook her head. "I don't know."
"Think about it," Towa encouraged with a comforting smile. "Whatever your decision will be, I will support you because I know the truth that you love them both."
End of Flashback
Aya sighed inwardly as she recalled her talk with Towa exactly a week ago. For days, Towa's question kept on echoing over and over again inside her head as if prompting her to make a final decision. And yesterday, she finally came up with a decision. It wasn't exactly the painless choice she could have chosen but she knew it was the best for everyone, most especially for her.
The dark-haired gal exited the grocery carrying five plastic bags, two to the left and three to the right. Tomorrow at six in the evening a celebration would unfold at Towa's cafe. The said celebration was for Aya and because of that, she took the whole responsibility for the preparations, not allowing any of her friends to lend a hand. It earned her a few suspicious glance but nonetheless she managed to get through.
She hesitantly allowed her mother to help her with minor chores like the washing of utensils and preparing of ingredients. The rest of the cooking, however, would be done by her for she wanted everything to be special. She didn't tell her friends that she'd be awake the whole night for the preparation of the foods because she would only make them worry. It's only her parents who knew about that but even they, decided not to intervene for they finally realized that their daughter was old enough to know her limits.
Everything was going according to Aya's plan.
That night, the dark-haired lass, with a little help from her mother and a supportive pat from her father, proceeded with the cooking. From time to time, tears would roll down her eyes and she would stop for awhile to wipe the tears, lest they'd fall into the foods. Her mother would simply look at her with sympathy, knowing that no comfort could ease her broken heart. Once or twice, she would even stop for a good ten minutes to let all her tears flow down. By then, Mrs. Hoshino would pull her daughter into a hug.
It was already six in the morning when Aya finished all the cooking. The only thing left to do in the kitchen was to bake her masterpiece--a two-layered cake with vanilla fudge along the sides. It was simple but it mirrored her simple yet sweet nature.
A few more hours of tireless working passed by and Aya successfully finished the cake. Using icings of different colors, she designed the cake with flowers, smiling faces and shapes. The names of each of her friends were also written in different fonts and sizes. Lastly, using a few amount of white icing, she wrote some words at the side of the lower portion of the two-layered cake, making sure that it was barely noticeable unless thoroughly observed. She didn't know exactly why she wrote those unneeded words there when she was perfectly sure that she didn't want her friends to have any idea of what was bound to happen. But in the depth of her soul, a taunting feeling told her that she was being unfair, which was probably the reason why she risked writing those words in her cake.
She heaved a deep sigh and closed the box where she carefully placed the cake. 'Don't cry, Aya. Be strong.' She mentally reprimanded herself before proceeding to her pending works.
By twelve in the afternoon, Aya resorted to rest for awhile to regain her strength for the incoming celebration. As soon as she laid her weary body to the soft, comfy bed, she immediately drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
Four hours of sleep ended when the alarm clock rang, signifying the need to wake up. Though a bit drowsy, Aya lifted herself up from bed and proceeded to prepare. She wore a simple white top, a skirt just below her knees and a sandal of about two inches high. Her dark hair was tied in a low pigtail by a blue ribbon.
By the time Aya went downstairs from her room, the foods, cake and basically everything she needed to take at Towa's cafe were already arranged in the car, waiting to be carried off. "Ready?" Mr. Hoshino asked while twirling the keys around his finger.
"Thanks," she muttered with tears rolling down her eyes and then nodded. She never expected that her once strict parents would be so understanding. For that, she was glad. She needed them at this time more than ever.
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Aya arrived at the Palms Tree Café an hour before the time. Without any delay, she arranged the foods at the table and placed a bit of decorations. "Wow, Aya you sure prepared a lot of foods. And the cake is so beautiful, it looks so delicious." Miyu complemented, surprised. "But isn't it a bit too much? To think you prepared all this. You must be tired, Aya."
"Don't worry about me Miyu. I really want everyone to enjoy."
Miyu smiled at her friend's natural thoughtfulness. "You're really a good friend."
From the counter, Towa looked at Aya, eyes glinting with sadness and worry while Miyu decided to leave her friend in peace, aware that the dark-haired lass would not accept any help from her.
A few minutes passed by and it was already six o'clock. So far none had arrived yet. By that time, Aya had already finished the preparations and she settled with a chat with her yellow-haired friend. "Congratulations for having a high grade, Aya," Miyu said. "You're parents must be really happy about that since they've allowed you to spend so much for this celebration. But I just can't help wonder if this party is really all about that."
"O-of course, Miyu," she replied a bit uncomfortably. "Why did you ask?"
"Don't think that I don't trust you," the latter answered back. "I just don't understand why you have to go through all those trouble in preparing so much just to celebrate your high grades when in reality you've always had a high grade even before you met us."
Towa observed the two girls in silence, anticipating the outcome of their little talk. Miyu looked at her friend anxiously, wondering what was taking her too long to reply. "We're not really celebrating for my grades." Aya replied, head bowed low. "We're celebrating because I finally proved to my parents that you guys are not hindrance to my studies."
Miyu narrowed her eyes and smiled apologetically. "Sorry for doubting you."
"It's okay"
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The guests arrived. Rie and Satsuki were the first two, followed by Yamato with his sister Sayo and his sister's boyfriend, Masato, Tatsuki with his brother Naoki, Yuuya with Mami and Harue, lastly, came Ran Kotobuki. Aya flinched inwardly upon seeing that Rei had not yet arrived or probably would not arrive. But knowing him, she half-expected that.
Squeals of delight from the hyperactive gal and a number of complements from the others distracted the dark-haired lass from further thinking of the insensitive lad. She constantly reminded herself that she would be happy this day with or without him.
"You made this cake on your own?" Naoki asked with hearts printed all over his eyes, like a lovesick idiot. Aya could only nod.
"Amazing," was all Masato could say, still drop-mouthed in surprise.
"You bet it is," Sayo agreed with unreserved admiration.
More complements were thrown at the timid gal, making her a bit embarrassed. "I wish you're my sister Aya so that you can make a cake for me every single day! Now, that would be a dream come true for me!" Ran said while patting her friend's back roughly, almost enough to make her cough.
"A sister? It's more like a servant." Aya joked with a chuckle.
"Geez Ran you're hopeless." Satsuki commented.
"For someone like you who loves eating, it's better you learn to cook and bake for yourself." Harue advised matter-of-factly.
"Harue is right. Besides Ran, don't you know that having a culinary skill is one of a girl's charm?" Mami Honda remarked proudly with a smirk. "It's just a pity you don't have that."
"What did you say, Mami?" Ran yelled angrily. And the fight began. Tatsuki, being the stupid boyfriend of Ran volunteered as the referee, Yuuya, being the concerned one reprimanded the monkey boy, while Yamato, being the police officer, tried to stop the fight yet to no avail. The rest focused their attention back to the cake.
"Hey what are those?" Miyu asked as she caught a glimpse of letters written at the sides of the lower portion of the cake, as if the words were deliberately being hidden from anyone's sight. "Avant que nous nous rencontrions de nouveau," she read aloud, momentarily making the rivals stop their fight. "What does that mean, Aya?"
"I didn't see that awhile ago." Harue commented.
"Me too," Rie claimed and everyone nodded in agreement.
"It's...a...uhm...a prophecy written in foreign language." Aya replied, making everyone look at her ridiculously.
"A prophecy?" Ran clarified while suppressing her laughter. "So why is it there? Where did you get that anyway?"
"I...uhm...got it from a book." Aya was already blushing from embarrassment. "And I placed it just to try something new."
No one seemed convince. "What does it say?" Towa asked intriguely.
"Uhm...well...you see...I...can't say." Almost everyone furrowed their eyebrows. "Until it really happens."
Groans, suspicious glare, confused look, endless questions and an ear-splitting protest from Ran followed but Aya merely flashed them a sheepish smile until they all decided to forget about it.
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"Hooray for Aya's high grades!" Ran Kotobuki proclaimed as she initiated the tossing of glasse which only contained juice. Aya sweat-dropped but decided to join anyway. "And hail to Aya's parents for this super awesome food-filled party!"
The dark-haired lass laughed along with the rest of her friends but deep inside her, there was this flickering urge to fall on her knees and cry. Towa looked at her with pure concern as if she could see through her very soul.
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So far, everybody was enjoying the party. Aya glanced at each of her friends, tears swelling her eyes. Masato and Sayo were discussing about their next detective mission while Tatsuki and Naoki were fighting over a piece of sushi. The rivals, Ran and Mami were bragging to each other about their newly acquired accessories while Yuuya watched them wearily, wondering when they would finally realize that their conversation was surely going to end in fighting. At the counter, Towa, Yamato and Miyu were talking about how the café was going on lately.
Afraid to suddenly burst out crying, Aya sneaked outside. She carefully opened the door, hoping that no one would notice. Towa saw her leave but decided not to do anything for the meantime. Once outside, Aya wiped the tears that rolled down her eyes. Now that she was alone, she couldn't help but cry.
"Aya?" Yuuya's voice came from behind. Her eyes momentarily widened but she remembered to quickly wipe the tears from her face.
"Yuuya what are you doing here?" Before she could even turn to face him, he was already beside her.
"I saw you leave that's why I followed you." He looked at her anxiously but she looked away. "Rei is my best friend but sometimes I just don't understand him. Like now, I don't understand why he always makes you cry. So am I right? Are you crying because of him?"
She couldn't reply. Rei wasn't the only reason why she was crying but if she would tell him the reason then she would have to reveal everything, even the truth behind the ongoing party. And she wouldn't do that, not because he didn't trust Yuuya but because she didn't want him to be involved.
Upon receiving no answer from the lass, the blonde guy took out his cell phone and dialed a number. "Rei," he said to the person at the other end of the line. Aya looked at him, wide eyes.
"What do you want, Yuuya?" Rei Otohata asked.
"Don't you have any plan of showing up?"
"You know I'm busy."
"Man, what's wrong with you? Aya's waiting for you here. Don't you even care?" Yuuya replied a bit exasperated.
Rei did not reply.
"Yuuya," Aya whispered with head bowed low. "Please tell him to come even just for awhile as my last favor from him."
The blonde guy narrowed his eyes in sympathy. He knew how it felt to have a one-sided love for she was once in her shoes. "Rei," he said once again, "show yourself here even just for a few minutes. It's Aya's one last favor from you so don't fail her." With that, he hang up, not wanting to argue with him anymore.
"Thanks, Yuuya," Aya muttered gratefully.
"It's nothing, really," he replied, still looking worriedly at the lass. "But are you okay?" Aya nodded and though unconvinced, Yuuya decided not to press on her. "So let's go inside now before you catch a cold." She complied and so they headed inside before their presence became a disturbance for the others.
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An hour later, Rei Otohata came.
End of Chapter 1
Everything will be cleared in Chapter 2. Leave a review, kay?
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Sneak Peak for Chapter 2
"Miyu needs you here." With that, Towa exited the police station.
Yamato turned back to his girlfriend. She looked at him, eyes evident with tears. "Is...it...true?"
He didn't answer, instead, he approached her and pulled her into a warm embrace. At that moment, he knew it was the only thing he could do.
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